This emotional response model represents the story of The Awakening by Kate Chopin through symbols and imagery, both included in the script, and my own ideas to represent the main ideas and themes. Every element in this model has meaning:

The broken cage represents the way Edna broke out of the cage society put women in at the time.

The blue string represents the sea which caused Edna’s awakening, unravelling to show her impulsive behaviour is out of control, getting tied up in everything and causing chaos in her life.

The letters/sheet music represent the influence from Robert and the arts, specifically Mademoiselle’s piano playing to pursue her (Edna's) own art as a way to be independent, but they are destroyed to indicate the destruction these new ideas have caused.

The peeled black paper represents Edna's past life being stripped away by these new influences.

The toy blocks represent Edna's childish way of living, living off impulses. The tumbling of the blocks represents the destructive nature of her behaviour, as well as the responsibility of raising her children, which she is leaving behind.

The fallen queen chess piece represents Edna's feeling of complete power and freedom, but in the end it caused her downfall.

The bird represents Edna's freedom from the cage society put herself in.